Hello My Name is Wendy and I Gossip
It’s a sensitive topic.
As Christian women, we don’t want to admit we do it. To soften its severity we call it sharing. Adding to the deception we conclude these conversations with a sweet whisper of bless her heart.
It’s gossip- unstrained, casual conversation.
Over the years as I have battled with my blabber-mouth-self I have come to realize this is not a fight I can win on my own. Girlfriend to girlfriend, maybe you struggle with gossip too. Through multiple defeats I have learned victory will come when we:
Key 1 – Can Be honest with Ourselves
Call it what it is: gossip. It’s not sharing. It’s not a prayer request. It’s not an “I know you are close to such-and-such and thought you would want to know…” word to tell. It. Is. Gossip. Honestly, this is the hardest part for me. There’s a part of me that loves to share in a whisper what I know. Lord, help me
Key 2 – Listen to Our Helper
Jesus knew life would be hard for us. (John 16:33) He knew full well the power of temptation. (Matthew 4:1-11) Therefore, when He left this world, He sent the Holy Spirit. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to to let us know when we are about to sin. (John 16:13) In that moment, when our throat tightens and heart beats in triple time, and when our Helper whispers, “Hey. This is wrong” we need zip our lips and walk away.
Key 3 – Lean on His Word
There is a truth in God’s Word for everything we face. It might take some sleuthing but when we find the truth, we find power. Years ago in my regular Bible study this truth jumped right off the page into my heart, “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3). Yielding to this truth gives me power. It will give you power too!
Let’s consider how different our relationships might be if we shared His truths rather than unrestrained conversation. What if we became intentional in making our conversations meaningful rather than causal?
Oh how thought!
Hey, thanks so much for popping over for a visit from Encouragement for Today devotion. I pray the air today is filled words that are truthful, helpful, inspiring, necessary, and kind.
Thank you! I can really identify with this and will try to remember T.H.I.N.K. Our tongues can do such good or evil.
This hit home with me because its a big problem that surrounds me every day at work. There is talk everywhere and it can be very challenging not to participate especially if I am effected somehow.
Thank you for this blog today, I am going to save it and reflect on it as well as praying.
So so true–such a timely message. It’s definitely one of those slippery slopes for me, and T.H.I.N.K is a fantastic reminder. I would add that beyond conversations, these days email makes it far too easy to say things better left unsaid.
Great message this morning. One point of clarification if I may …
An “acronym” is an abbreviation formed from the initial components in a phrase or a word. These components may be individual letters (as in laser or NASA, SCUBA, SONAR).
A “mnemonic” such as “T.H.I.N.K.” Is actually a device (such as a rhyme or silly saying) used to aid recall. Also defined as device, gimmick, twist – any clever maneuver to assist memory.
There is an old native American saying which states that Gossip is what keeps the village alive. It is the intentions masking the sharing that can bring about conflict and turmoil. If there was no sharing (info, tools, gifts, favors, etc.) there is no village.
I really appreciate your message ! I am going to print it out and keep it handy where I can see it EVERYDAY. I pray about keeping a guard on my mouth and “thinking” before I speak, though often when my mouth opens, somewhere along the line, my mind slowly follows behind my “mouth” and I wish that I would have just slowed down to T.H.I.N.K. first ! Thank you for the powerful reminder.
Thank you for being vulnerable. And to speak on the side of what happens when you have meaningful conversations, my deepest, most solid, and longest lasting friendships have been with those women whom I have allowed myself to be vulnerable with, and openly spoke about and sought after God’s truth with. Thank you Wendy for speaking truth to us and guiding us in God’s wisdom and truth!